Sunday, December 25, 2016

There is still a high risk of more terrorist attacks in France, the head of the National Police, Jean-Marc Falcone, said in an interview with the weekly Le Journal du Dimanche. “Our intelligence services analyze the state of the threat on a daily basis,” he told the newspaper. “For several months it has remained very high, in France as in the European countries that participate in the coalition [against Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL)]. After the unfortunate experience of the attack in Nice, the attack in Berlin confirms the need for a high-intensity security system, both active and passive, for large gatherings.” Falcone added that extra precautions must be taken around Christmas markets and church masses during the holiday season, which may be targeted by jihadists.

Authorities in Rome have banned trucks from entering the center of the capital for the festive season after the attacks in Berlin and Nice. Trucks and other large vehicles will be barred from the designated zone during the weekend of December 24, 25, 26, then December 31 and January 1 and 6, local media said. Only vehicles weighing less than 3.5 tons and carrying emergency medical supplies, newspapers and post will be allowed. The announcement comes as Italy steps-up its security in several major cities, including Milan and the Vatican, where extra police and roadblocks have been deployed on the streets.